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View Full Version : Completed BMW M Coupe "final first-generation M Coupe"


Zoom Zoom
06-27-2006, 01:24 PM
This model depicts the last of the first-generation M Coupes made at BMW USA’s Spartanburg, SC plant. BMW has started production of a sexy new M Coupe based on the Z4. The final three cars off the Z3 production line prior to change to the Z4 were a red M Roadster, white M Coupe, and blue Z3. When I saw this M Coupe at the factory museum called “The Zentrum” I realized this was how I wanted to build my 2002 M Coupe kit.

The kit was made by Dragon (an update of their M Roadster) and was sold by Revell in Europe. It’s not a particularly good kit as it’s got a number of sketchy details and engineered glitches but it’s sufficient for a basic curbside. I disassembled the prepainted body and painted it Tamiya Pure White, and designed and laser printed the trademark BMW flag decals for the car. I also lowered the ride height a bit and made a sunroof by simply painting that area of the roof with Tamiya gloss black. I scratchbuilt the rear license plate holder, the plate reads “Proud To Call South Carolina Home”.

http://images2.fotki.com/v327/photos/1/10258/3458188/Finished1-vi.jpg
http://images17.fotki.com/v9/photos/1/10258/3458188/Finished2-vi.jpg
http://images17.fotki.com/v14/photos/1/10258/3458188/Finished3-vi.jpg
http://images2.fotki.com/v327/photos/1/10258/3458188/Finished4-vi.jpg
http://images17.fotki.com/v15/photos/1/10258/3458188/Finished5-vi.jpg
http://images17.fotki.com/v9/photos/1/10258/3458188/Finished6-vi.jpg

The basic body and printed decals:
http://images16.fotki.com/v289/photos/1/10258/3458188/Decals-vi.jpg

The 1:1 on display at the BMW Zentrum:
http://images4.fotki.com/v50/photos/1/10258/23480/DSCN4418-vi.jpg
http://images16.fotki.com/v303/photos/1/10258/3458188/DSCN4417vi-vi.jpg
GTmike400
06-27-2006, 01:34 PM
Nice touch with the license plate. Looks great overall!
Dino Scuderia
06-27-2006, 03:49 PM
Yowza! Nice work!
Dino Scuderia
06-27-2006, 03:49 PM
Yowza! Nice work!
crispy
06-27-2006, 07:33 PM
Looks great Bob! You are a machine! I can't build that fast and get them to look that good.
Builds like that make the kit look great, no matter how fiddly it is.
Chris
Eric Cole
06-27-2006, 08:22 PM
Looks awesome Bob..... great job with the decals.
Pauley Sty Reen
06-28-2006, 12:20 PM
Nice job on this one, Bob. What decal creation system do you use ? (what kind of graphics programs, printers, decal paper, etc.)

BTW, I saw a new Z4 coupe (M version) yesterday at the BMW dealer. Very sharp looking, but tight inside.
Matt Wadlinger
06-28-2006, 07:32 PM
Looks very good. The custom decals set it off.

This gives me some motivation to build the M coupe that I want to build. :)
Zoom Zoom
06-28-2006, 07:53 PM
Nice job on this one, Bob. What decal creation system do you use ? (what kind of graphics programs, printers, decal paper, etc.)

BTW, I saw a new Z4 coupe (M version) yesterday at the BMW dealer. Very sharp looking, but tight inside.

Thanks! We saw the new M Coupe at the auto show a couple months ago, it's definitely a looker; the coupe styling trumps the roadster thoroughly. By far my favorite new BMW.

I used a simple graphic program by IMSI made for flowcharts; it works much like Freehand, much easier (for me) than Illustrator that has frustrated me every time I try to use it. Decals were printed on "Toner Transfer" paper, but they also print on regular decal film. Printing was via a color laserjet; same printer that did the Martini 924 decals. The colors are a bit translucent; so it was a good thing that I was applying them over white bodies. One would have to layer the decals into X number of layers over darker colors. We have a freshly rebuilt Alps at our disposal that we need to get cranking.